AddressSummary This position is located within the Housing & Urban Development VA Supported Housing Program (HUD-VASH) at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY. The Housing Program Specialist - Homeless Housing works to move Veterans and their families out of chronic homelessness and position will work closely with the Homeless Program staff to coordinate and develop housing resources and provide case management. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION The major duties include but are not limited to: Identifies and finds low-income housing; Attends homeless/housing meetings to provide program presentations and update and build collaborative relations with area Public Housing Authorities, Veterans Service Officers, and landlords; Locates suitable permanent housing in the community; Maintains an inventory of safe, available units; Communicates with landlords; Conducts outreach to prospective landlords and property management groups on behalf of homeless Veterans; Educates individuals and organizations on the benefits of leasing to HUD-VASH Veterans; Conducts housing seminars; Serves as a housing resource for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless; Drives Veterans to or meets Veterans at housing units for viewing and walk-through purposes; Develops working relationships and agreements with other organizations; Directly communicates with local housing authorities regarding inspection standards and paperwork; Identifies potential barriers to secure desired housing and develop strategies to overcome these barriers; Reviews housing placement progress and provides direct assistance to Veterans regarding housing-related issues; Works closely with Supportive Services for Veterans Families Programs for assistance with securing deposits, utility assistance, rental arrears, etc. Maintains accurate records and data needed for local and national reports; and, Performs all other duties as assigned. Preferred Experience: Good customer service skills Ability to develop connections with community partners Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. AND In addition to the English Language Proficiency, to qualify for this position at the GS-9 level, you must meet one of the following: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Housing Program Specialist - Homeless Housing, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: providing assistance and direct services related to a Housing Program for homeless, low income, and/or the disabled; working knowledge of housing market and leasing process; and applying an understanding of housing rules, regulations, policies, and available programs (i.e., Section 8, American with Disabilities Act., etc.). NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. OR Education: Successfully completed a master's or equivalent graduate degree or two (2) full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B., J.D., if related, that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the Housing Program Specialist - Homeless Housing position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (beyond the first year) and specialized experience, as described above, which may be used to meet total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do to the work of the Housing Program Specialist - Homeless Housing position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. AND Driver's License Requirement (Screen-out): This position requires a current and valid state-issued driver's license to operate government vehicles to perform the official duties of the position. Note: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your driver's license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you may be required to provide a copy of your current and valid state-issued driver's license. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: LISTENING MANAGES AND ORGANIZES INFORMATION NEGOTIATION CUSTOMER SERVICE IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Physical Requirements: The work requires sitting, bending, stooping, and walking consistent with the delivery of services in the office, hospital, and community. Operation of a motor vehicle is required. The position may entail lifting of no more than 25 pounds on an occasional basis. Whenever possible, carts and dollies will be utilized as an alternative to lifting. Travels into the community to conduct interviews with the Veterans, family members, representatives of community health and welfare agencies, and law enforcement agencies. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov). Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (518) 626-5000. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
